Mixed conductivity, structural and microstructural characterization of titania-doped yttria tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline/titania-doped yttria stabilized zirconia composite anode matrices

Taking advantage of the fact that TiO₂ additions to 8YSZ cause not only the formation of a titania-doped YSZ solid solution but also a titania-doped YTZP solid solution, composite materials based on both solutions were prepared by solid state reaction. In particular, additions of 15 mol% of TiO₂ give rise to composite materials constituted by 0.51 mol fraction titania-doped yttria tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline and 0.49 mol fraction titania-doped yttria stabilized zirconia (0.51TiYTZP/0.49TiYSZ). Furthermore, Y₂(Ti_1−yZr_y)₂O₇ pyrochlore is present as an impurity phase with y close to 1, according to FT-Raman results. Lower and higher additions of titania than that of 15 mol%, i.e., x=0, 5, 10, 20, 25 and 30 mol% were considered to study the evolution of 8YSZ phase as a function of the TiO₂ content. Furthermore, zirconium titanate phase (ZrTiO₄) is detected when the titania content is equal or higher than 20 mol% and this phase admits Y₂O₃ in solid solution according to FE-SEM-EDX.The 0.51TiYTZP/0.49TiYSZ duplex material was selected in this study to establish the mechanism of its electronic conduction under low oxygen partial pressures. In the pO₂ range from 0.21 to 10^−7.5 atm. the conductivity is predominantly ionic and constant over the range and its value is 0.01 S/cm. The ionic plus electronic conductivity is 0.02 S/cm at 1000 °C and 10^−12.3 atm. Furthermore, the onset of electronic conductivity under reducing conditions exhibits a −1/4 pO₂ dependence. Therefore, it is concluded that the n-type electronic conduction in the duplex material can be due to a small polaron-hopping between Ti³⁺ and Ti⁴⁺.     

The intrinsic origin of the grain-boundary resistance in Sr-doped LaGaO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Abstract  In this paper I summarize our recent investigations (Park and Kim, Phys Chem C 111:14903, 2007; Solid State Ionics 179:1329, 2008) on the origin of the grain-boundary resistance in a doped LaGaO₃, a perovskite-structured solid electrolyte. The partial electronic and ionic resistances of the bulk and the grain boundaries, as well as the total resistance, in 1 mol% Sr-doped LaGaO₃ were measured separately by means of a dc-polarization method and ac-impedance spectroscopy. Both of the partial resistances at the grain boundaries were greater than the bulk counterparts, indicating that the grain boundaries impede the ionic as well as the electronic transport in this material. The transference number of the partial electronic conductivity at the grain boundary was however greater than that in the bulk. This fact strongly suggests that both electronic and ionic charge carriers deplete at the grain boundaries to form the space-charge zones and that the grain-boundary cores in this material are positively charged. In light of the fact that the effective charge of the oxygen vacancy (+2) is greater than that of the electron hole (+1), the oxygen vacancies deplete more sharply in the space-charge zones compared to the electron holes such that the grain boundaries become more mixed conducting relative to the bulk. These observations verify that the electrical conduction across the grain-boundaries in 1 mol% Sr-doped LaGaO₃ is governed by the space charge. Graphical Abstract        

Microstructure and electrical transport in nano-grain sized Ce0.9Gd0.1O2−δ ceramics

An enhancement of the electrical conductivity has been found in nano-grain sized Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_2−δ ceramics when measured in N₂ (p_O2=3.5×10⁻⁶ atm) in comparison with the most commonly accepted values of bulk ionic conductivity. We first present the synthesis and characterisation of the nanoparticles later used for the preparation of dense nanoceramics of Gd-doped CeO₂. The nanoparticles were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The good sintering properties of these nanopowders allowed us to obtain very dense ceramics (>90% theoretical density) while keeping the grain size close to 100 nm. The microstructure of these nanoceramics was analysed by AFM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) while the electrical characterisation was performed by the 4-point dc technique between 500 and 950 °C in air or N₂ and ac impedance between 150 and 400 °C in air and or argon. We briefly discuss the possibilities of electron vs. oxygen ion conduction and grain boundary vs. bulk conductivity. The features exhibited by these ceramics represent an increased potential to process solid electroceramics materials with specific levels of electronic and/or ionic conductivities for a variety of electrochemical devices.     

Ionic conduction of a high-temperature modification of Lu<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>

A nanoceramic product of the composition Lu₂Ti₂O₇ is synthesized by a coprecipitation method with a subsequent sublimation drying and an annealing at 650–1650°C. The conduction of Lu₂Ti₂O₇ synthesized at 1650°C is ionic (10^–3 S cm^–1 at 800°C). Thus, a new material with a high ionic conduction has been discovered. The ordering in Lu₂Ti₂O₇ is studied by methods of RFA, RSA, IK spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and impedance spectroscopy. The existence of a low-temperature phase transition fluorite-pyrochlore at 800°C and a high-temperature conversion order-disorder at 1650°C are established.Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2005, pp. 298–303.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Shlyakhtina, Ukshe, Shcherbakova.     

Phase transitions, electrical conductivity and chemical stability of BiFeO3 at high temperatures

The multiferroic perovskite BiFeO₃ is reported to display two first order structural phase transitions. The structural phase transition at 925±5 °C is demonstrated to be first order by calorimetry and dilatometry. Electrical conductivity measurements revealed that the high temperature phase above 925±5 °C is semiconducting, in disagreement with recent reports. The sign and magnitude of the volumes of transition reflect the sign and magnitude of the discontinuities in electrical conductivity across the two first order phase transitions. A high partial pressure of oxygen was demonstrated to stabilise BiFeO₃ towards peritectic decomposition. Finally, the origins of the commonly observed decomposition of BiFeO₃ at high temperatures are discussed.     

Mixed conductivity and stability of A-site-deficient Sr(Fe,Ti)O<Subscript>3–δ</Subscript> perovskites

Deficiency in the A sublattice of perovskite-type Sr_{1– y} Fe_0.8Ti_0.2O_3–δ (y=0–0.06) leads to suppression of oxygen-vacancy ordering and to increasing oxygen ionic conductivity, unit cell volume, thermal expansion, and stability in CO₂-containing atmospheres. The total electrical conductivity, predominantly p-type electronic in air, decreases with increasing A-site deficiency at 300–700 K and is essentially independent of the cation vacancy concentration at higher temperatures. Oxygen ion transference numbers for Sr_{1– y} Fe_0.8Ti_0.2O_3–δ in air, estimated from the faradaic efficiency and oxygen permeation data, vary in the range from 0.002 to 0.015 at 1073–1223 K, increasing with temperature. The maximum ionic conductivity was observed for Sr_0.97Fe_0.8Ti_0.2O_3–δ ceramics. In the system Sr_0.97Fe_{1– x} Ti _x O_3–δ (x=0.1–0.6), thermal expansion and electron-hole conductivity both decrease with x. Moderate additions of titanium (up to 20%) in Sr_0.97(Fe,Ti)O_3–δ result in higher ionic conductivity and lower activation energy for ionic transport, owing to disordering in the oxygen sublattice; further doping decreases the ionic conduction. It was shown that time degradation of the oxygen permeability, characteristic of Sr(Fe,Ti)O_3–δ membranes and resulting from partial ordering processes, can be reduced by cycling of the oxygen pressure at the membrane permeate side. Thermal expansion coefficients of Sr_{1– y} Ti_{1– x} Fe _x O_3–δ (x=0.10–0.60, y=0–0.06) in air are in the range (11.7–16.5)×10^–6 K^–1 at 350–750 K and (16.6–31.1)×10^–6 K^–1 at 750–1050 K. Electronic Publication     

Relationship between the ionic and electronic partial conductivities of co-doped LSGM ceramics from oxygen partial pressure dependence of the total conductivity

La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.85-x Mg_0.15Co _x O_3±δ-materials (further cobalt-doped LSGM), where x varied from 0 to 0.20, were synthesized by means of the conventional powder route. The total conductivity of the La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.85-x Mg_0.15Co _x O_3±δ samples was measured as a function of temperature (400–900 °C) and oxygen partial pressure by means of the impedance technique. The values of the oxygen ionic and the hole conductivities were determined from non-linear regression of the oxygen partial pressure dependence of the total conductivity. It was shown that the substitution of gallium by cobalt in the LSGM results in increasing either the oxygen ionic or the hole conductivity, although the increase of the hole conductivity due to the doping by cobalt is more significant than the increase of the oxygen ionic conductivity. The hole conductivity of the selected compositions was studied by oxygen permeation- and Hebb–Wagner-polarization measurements.     

La2Mo2O9在低氧分压条件下的电导率及热膨胀测试

The electrical conductivity and thermal expansion of La2Mo2O9 under low oxygen partial pressure were studied with the help of thermoelectric power and dilatometric measurements, respectively. The ionic conduction of La2Mo2O9 was predominant with the electronic transference number less than 0.05 above an oxygen partial pressure of about Po2=10^-7 Pa at 700℃, and below this pressure the electronic conduction became obvious. The defect reaction and small polaron hopping among molybdenum sites were proposed to explain the electronic conduction. Accompanying the phase transition, there was a sharp increase of thermal expansion, which became more serious under low oxygen partial pressure. The substitution of lanthanum by neodymium led to the increase of electrical conductivity but the decrease of phase stability.     

Oxygen ionic and electronic transport in Gd<Subscript>2−x</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>x</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript><Subscript>−δ</Subscript> pyrochlores

Oxygen ion transference numbers for Gd_2−xCa_xTi₂O_{7 −δ} (x=0.10–0.14) pyrochlore ceramics were determined at 973–1223 K by the modified e.m.f. and faradaic efficiency techniques, taking into account electrode polarization, and from the results on oxygen permeation. The ion transference numbers vary in the range 0.95–0.98 in air, increasing when the temperature or oxygen partial pressure decreases. The activation energies for the ionic and p-type electronic transport in air are 74–77 and 87–91 kJ/mol, respectively. The p-type conductivity and oxygen permeability of Gd₂Ti₂O₇-based pyrochlores can be adequately described by relationships common for other solid electrolytes. At temperatures below 1273 K under a gradient of 10%H₂+90%N₂/air, average ion transference numbers for doped gadolinium titanate are not less than 0.97. Thermal expansion coefficients for Gd_2−xCa_xTi₂O_{7 −δ} ceramics, calculated from dilatometric data in air, are in the range (10.4–10.6)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at 400–1300 K.     

Preparation of Ca<Subscript>3</Subscript>Co<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript> by polyacrylamide gel processing and its thermoelectric properties

Ca₃Co₄O₉ powder was prepared by a polyacrylamide gel route in this paper. The effect of the processing on microstructure and thermoelectric properties of Ca₃Co₄O₉ ceramics via spark plasma sintering were investigated. Electrical measurement shows that the Seebeck coefficient and conductivity are 170 μV/K and 128 S/cm, respectively, at 700 °C, yielding a power factor value of 3.70 × 10⁻⁴ W m⁻¹ K⁻² at 700 °C, which is larger than that of Ca₃Co₄O₉ ceramics via solid-state reaction processing. The polyacrylamide gel processing is a fast, cheap, reproducible and easily scaled up chemical route to improve the thermoelectric properties of Ca₃Co₄O₉ ceramics by preparing the homogeneous and pure Ca₃Co₄O₉ phase.     

新型氧离子导体La2Mo1.8Ga0.2O9陶瓷的合成及其电性能

通过高温固相合成法首次合成了La₂Mo_1.8Ga_0.2O₉陶瓷样品. 粉末XRD结果表明, 该样品为单一立方相La₂Mo₂O₉结构. 以陶瓷样品为固体电解质、多孔性铂为电极, 采用交流阻抗谱、气体浓差电池、氧泵等方法研究了样品在600～1000 ℃下各种气氛中的离子导电特性. 结果表明, 氧浓差电池电动势的实测值与理论值吻合得很好, 氧离子迁移数为1, 表明该陶瓷样品在该温度下氧气气氛中为一纯氧离子导体; 氧泵(氧的电化学透过)实验结果进一步证实了该样品在氧气气氛中为一纯氧离子导体; 在氧分压p(O₂)＝10^－5～10⁵ Pa的高氧分压气氛中, 电导率与氧分压变化基本无关, 表明在该氧分压范围内样品为纯离子导体, 这与氧浓差电池电动势测定结果相吻合; 在低氧分压为10^－5～10^－15 Pa范围内, 总电导率随氧分压降低而稍有升高, 表明在该氧分压范围样品为氧离子与电子的混合导体; 在600～1000 ℃下氧离子电导率＞10^－2 S•cm^－1, 显著高于母体La₂Mo₂O₉的氧离子电导率, 1000 ℃时的氧离子电导率为0.07 S•cm^－1.     

Effects of sintering additives on the mixed transport properties of ceria-based materials under reducing conditions

Commercial Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_2– nanopowders and alternative precursors synthesized by a freeze-drying method were used to obtain samples with and without Co addition as a sintering agent. Two percent Co-doped samples were sintered at 1150 °C and 1500 °C and undoped samples were sintered at 1500 °C or 1600 °C to obtain samples with relative densities in the range 92–94%. The total conductivity and the relative roles of bulk and grain boundary conductivity were studied by impedance spectroscopy. These results demonstrated that additions of Co play a very significant effect on the grain boundary behaviour, which is spoiled when the sintering temperature is excessive. Significant differences in grain boundary behaviour were also found between samples prepared from different precursor powders. The electronic conductivity of these materials was evaluated by an ion-blocking method and revealed that samples containing Co additions as a sintering additive possess somewhat lower n-type conductivity under identical conditions of temperature and oxygen partial pressure. The differences tend to vanish when these Co-doped samples are fired at high temperatures (1500 °C).Abbreviations CGO Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_1.9 - FD freeze-dried - RH rhodiaPresented at the OSSEP Workshop Ionic and Mixed Conductors: Methods and Processes, Aveiro, Portugal, 10–12 April 2003     

Structure and conductivity in CeNb<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>9-δ</Subscript>

Abstract  In the search of new materials for solid oxide fuel cells, a study of the structure and electrical conductivity of Mg-doped and nominally pure CeNb₃O_9-δ was undertaken. This material exhibits an orthorhombic crystal structure as determined by Rietveld refinement. Through a combined study of 4-point DC and AC impedance spectroscopy, it was determined that the material presents oxygen ion conductivity, electron conductivity and electron-hole conductivity according to the partial pressure of oxygen and temperature in agreement with a simple defect chemistry model. Finally, some experiments seem to indicate the presence of proton conduction. Graphical Abstract        

The intrinsic origin of the grain-boundary resistance in Sr-doped LaGaO3

Abstract  

In this paper I summarize our recent investigations (Park and Kim, Phys Chem C 111:14903, 2007; Solid State Ionics 179:1329, 2008) on the origin of the grain-boundary resistance in a doped LaGaO₃, a perovskite-structured solid electrolyte. The partial electronic and ionic resistances of the bulk and the grain boundaries, as well as the total resistance, in 1 mol% Sr-doped LaGaO₃ were measured separately by means of a dc-polarization method and ac-impedance spectroscopy. Both of the partial resistances at the grain boundaries were greater than the bulk counterparts, indicating that the grain boundaries impede the ionic as well as the electronic transport in this material. The transference number of the partial electronic conductivity at the grain boundary was however greater than that in the bulk. This fact strongly suggests that both electronic and ionic charge carriers deplete at the grain boundaries to form the space-charge zones and that the grain-boundary cores in this material are positively charged. In light of the fact that the effective charge of the oxygen vacancy (+2) is greater than that of the electron hole (+1), the oxygen vacancies deplete more sharply in the space-charge zones compared to the electron holes such that the grain boundaries become more mixed conducting relative to the bulk. These observations verify that the electrical conduction across the grain-boundaries in 1 mol% Sr-doped LaGaO₃ is governed by the space charge.     

Oxygen vacancy formation and ionic transport in Sr4Fe6O13± δ

Oxygen permeation through dense Sr₄Fe₆O_{13± δ} membranes was found to be limited by the bulk ambipolar conductivity. At 1173 K and oxygen partial pressures 10 to 1.01×10⁵ Pa, ionic conductivity of intergrowth strontium ferrite increases with reducing oxygen pressure, indicating that the vacancy migration mechanism provides a greater contribution to ionic transport in comparison with the interstitial diffusion. The ion transference numbers of Sr₄Fe₆O_{13± δ} increase from 2.5×10^–4 to 1.9×10^–3 when the oxygen pressure decreases. Combined X-ray and neutron powder diffraction studies of oxygen-deficient Sr₄Fe₆O_{13– δ} showed an accumulation of oxygen vacancies in the non-perovskite layers, built of oxygen-iron polyhedra with pentacoordinated Fe cations. Both thermal and chemically-induced expansion of Sr₄Fe₆O_{13± δ} lattice have pronounced anisotropic character and are considerably lower than that typical for perovskite-type strontium ferrite. The average thermal expansion coefficients of Sr₄Fe₆O_{13± δ} ceramics at 770–1100 K in oxidizing and reducing atmospheres vary in the range (10.8–13.2)×10^–6 K^–1. Electronic Publication     

Visible light photocatalytic reduction of water using SrSnO3 sensitized by CuFeO2

SrSnO_3–δ, prepared in sealed ampoules, crystallizes in the perovskite structure. The band gap is directly allowed at 3.93 eV. The conductivity was found to change markedly and occurs by polaron hopping with activation energy of 0.22 eV. The thermal variation of the thermopower indicates an electron mobility μ_{e 300K} = 3.15∙10^–6 cm²∙V^–1∙s^–1), thermally activated. The capacitance measurement shows a linear behavior from which a flat band potential of –0.20 V_SCE and an electronic density of 5.56∙10¹⁸ cm^–3 were determined. The conduction band edge (–4.32 eV/–0.42 V_SCE) lies below the H₂O/H₂ level. Accordingly, SrSnO_3–δ can be used for water photoreduction when combined with the delafossite CuFeO₂ as sensitizer. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental’naya Khimiya, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 160-166, May-June, 2009.     

A novel microwave dielectric ceramic Ca2Zn4Ti16O38: Preparation and dielectric properties

A novel microwave dielectric powder with composition of Ca₂Zn₄Ti₁₆O₃₈ was synthesized through a citrate sol-gel process. The development of crystalline phases with heat-treating temperature for the gel derived powders was evaluated by using thermo-gravimetric analysis and X-ray powder diffraction analysis techniques. The pure phase of Ca₂Zn₄Ti₁₆O₃₈ with crichtonite crystal structure was obtained at relatively low temperature of 1000 °C. The synthesized powder has high reactivity and the dense ceramics with single crystalline phase were obtained at low sintering temperature of 1100 °C. Impedance spectroscopy and microwave dielectric measurements on sintered samples showed the present compound to be a modest dielectric insulator with excellent dielectric properties of ε_r∼47-49, Qf value ∼27,800-31,600 GHz and τ_f∼+45 to +50 ppm/°C. It shows comparable microwave dielectric properties to other moderate-permittivity microwave dielectrics, but much lower sintering temperature of 1100 °C.     

Comprehensive survey of Nd substitution In La2Mo2O9 oxide-ion conductor

Differential thermal analysis coupled to temperature-controlled diffraction have given evidence of a topological metastability phenomenon in an extended compositional range of the La_2−xNd_xMo₂O₉ solid solution. A metastable-stable phase diagram is proposed for this series of LAMOX-type fast oxide-ion conductors. In the Nd range 0<x?0.35, a freezing of the oxygen/vacancy disorder of the β-phase at ambient temperature can be achieved through a splat-quenching to water-ice mixture or/and shaping/sintering into pellet. In the intermediate 0.4?x?1.2 range, the amount of β-metastable phase grows upon substitution for powders. The negative impact of β-metastable to α phase transition on conductivity tends to disappear through the partial stabilization of the β phase by shaping/sintering.     

Phase Relations in The V2O5–MoO3–α-Sb2O4 System in The Solid State in Air Atmosphere

The phase equilibria established in the V₂O₅–MoO₃–α-Sb₂O₄ system in the solid state in an air atmosphere were examined by using XRD and DTA methods. The obtained results allowed us to find that in this system a novel compound is formed involving three oxides. Its formula can be written as Sb₃V₂Mo₃O₂₁. The synthesis of this compound requires picking up the atmospheric oxygen. X-ray characteristics of this compound were determined and it was found that it melted incongruently at 740°C. The results obtained until now allow us to divide the investigated V₂O₅–MoO₃–α-Sb₂O₄ system into five partial subsystems. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Oxygen ionic and electronic transport in apatite-type La10−x(Si,Al)6O26±δ

The main factor governing the oxygen ionic conductivity in apatite-type La_10−xSi_6−yAl_yO_{27−3x/2−y/2} (x=0-0.33; y=0.5-1.5) is the concentration of mobile interstitials determined by the total oxygen content. The ion transference numbers, measured by modified faradaic efficiency technique, vary in the range 0.9949-0.9997 in air and increase on reducing oxygen partial pressure due to decreasing p-type electronic conduction. The activation energies for ionic and hole transport are (56-67)±3 kJ/mol and (57-100)±8 kJ/mol, respectively. Increasing oxygen content leads to higher hole conduction in oxidizing atmospheres and promotes minor oxygen losses from the lattice when the oxygen pressure decreases, although the overall level of ionic conductivity is almost constant in the p(O₂) range from 50 kPa down to 10⁻¹⁶ Pa. Under reducing conditions at temperatures above 1100 K, silicon oxide volatilization from the surface layers of apatite ceramics results in a moderate decrease of the conductivity with time. This suggests that the operation of electrochemical cells with silicate-based solid electrolytes should be limited to the intermediate-temperature range, such as 800-1000 K, where the ionic transport in most-conductive apatite phases containing 26.50-26.75 oxygen atoms per unit formula is higher than that in stabilized zirconia. The average thermal expansion coefficients of apatite ceramics, calculated from dilatometric data in air, are (8.7-10.8)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at 300-1300 K.